Caught without valid ticket. Advice needed.

[Golden]

Hi
I need advice on what to draft in response to letter from Giovia train ticket evasion to state what happened
I was caught by ticket office traveling from Farridon to Horley Train station without valid ticket but when the ticket officer asked me I told him from East Croydon and I have tapped my bank card of which that was not the truth
What I had done was to purchase a ticket from my Railcard app immediately I saw the ticket officers standing close to The barrel gate at Horley station and I panic to purchase a short ticket from next stop to Horley station and the train I entered was a one way train from East Croydon to Horley so he checked my Railcard ticket and told me I just purchased this card and the Train I got off from was 1 stop that I had purchased a wrong ticket and I asked him if I can buy a ticket with my bank card he refused instead he asked me do you or do you not have a valid Travelling ticket for your journey I answered I have my bank card he then said what ever u say now will be used against you at court of law I froze immediately he gave me a receipt that started I will be prosecuted if found guilty I never knew this can lead to a court case
Please I need help on what to reply to the letter I have received few days ago

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Welcome to the forum! It will be easier for us to give you advice if you can show us the letter you have received. But hide your personal details on the letter first - you probably don't want the entire internet knowing your name and address!

 

[Golden]

That I should explain what happened on that day to explain from my point of view

 

[6Gman]

Hi
I need advice on what to draft in response to letter from Giovia train ticket evasion to state what happened
I was caught by ticket office traveling from Farridon to Horley Train station without valid ticket but when the ticket officer asked me I told him from East Croydon and I have tapped my bank card of which that was not the truth
What I had done was to purchase a ticket from my Railcard app immediately I saw the ticket officers standing close to The barrel gate at Horley station and I panic to purchase a short ticket from next stop to Horley station and the train I entered was a one way train from East Croydon to Horley so he checked my Railcard ticket and told me I just purchased this card and the Train I got off from was 1 stop that I had purchased a wrong ticket and I asked him if I can buy a ticket with my bank card he refused instead he asked me do you or do you not have a valid Travelling ticket for your journey I answered I have my bank card he then said what ever u say now will be used against you at court of law I froze immediately he gave me a receipt that started I will be prosecuted if found guilty I never knew this can lead to a court case
Please I need help on what to reply to the letter I have received few days ago

The good news is that Govia, I understand, are more willing to settle out of court than some other operators.

The bad news is that your story seems rather confusing which doesn't help anyone to give you advice.

If I understand correctly:-

You were travelling from Farringdon to Horley.
You were stopped at Horley and asked to show a ticket.
You had only bought a ticket on-line after arriving at Horley and when you saw the inspectors.
The ticket was only from the previous station (Salfords?).
Was the ticket purchased with a railcard discount?
If so, did you have a railcard? Or did you buy that at Horley too?
When he asked again if you had a valid ticket you offered to pay with a bank card.
One final question, how did you get through the barriers at Farringdon?

 

[fandroid]

There are no barriers between the Tube and National Rail at Farringdon. If the OP had entered the Tube system elsewhere with their bank card then it's possible that they could have opened the gates at Horley with the same card and have paid for their journey.